Two years ago, I stood with dozens of other student activists in the north courtyard at Melbourne University and witnessed Bill Shorten declare his opposition to the Liberals’ attacks on education.

For good measure he signed a pledge: “I Bill Shorten pledge that the ALP will block proposed changes to higher education in the Senate”.

After attempting, and failing, to introduce one of the largest funding cuts to higher education in Australian history when in government in 2013, the ALP changed tack in opposition.

It sensed which way the wind was blowing. The 2014 budget and the attacks on education were deeply unpopular. The Liberal ministers responsible were met with student protests wherever they went. And regardless of what they said, they were unable to convince the public or the Senate to support moving toward a US-style education model.

The ALP rode this bandwagon, but never seriously opposed neoliberal attacks on universities.

It allowed many reactionary policies to pass through the Senate, including the scrapping of Centrelink start-up scholarships. Now it has announced that it will reduce the HELP-debt repayment threshold and will remove the HECS-HELP benefit. It will also cut $3.7 billion from higher education.

Instead of arguing that public money should be spent or that the rich should be taxed substantially more (or both), Shorten has capitulated to the argument for more cuts.

This should not come as a surprise. It doesn’t matter how many novelty-sized pledge slips the ALP signs, it is committed to a pro-business agenda.

Students have no “lesser evil” in the ALP. We must be prepared to continue fighting for a decent education system whatever the result of the election.